Amidst confusion about a person who claimed to be the driver of Sunday Leader Founder Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, who had reportedly being abducted by the Army Intelligence, it has now come to light that Dias, who worked as the driver of the late editor was abducted by the Army Intelligence because, Dias, who was often intoxicated had been going around alleging that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was allegedly behind the assassination, the Colombo Telegraph reliably learns.
Lasantha Wickrematunge
“On the day of Lasantha’s assassination, Dias had washed the car and forgotten to take his cell phone which he had kept on the bonnet near the cavity by the wiper blades. After Lasantha left the house in the car he called him about the phone. Dias had a motor bike and collected the phone. On his return near the turn off to Lasantha’s house he had stopped at the boutique to buy cigarrettes. The boutique keeper told him that there was a guy in black with his helmet off, who had followed Lasantha. Dias had tried to call Lasantha but his line was constantly engaged.” a knowledgeable source of the investigation told Colombo Telegraph.
“Dias used to consume alcohol every evening. He used to visit various places and blurt out stuff such as it was Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was behind Lasantha’s assassination. This reached the Army intelligence, who was told about Dias’s utterance, and they kidnapped him. No one knew about the kidnapping as after the driver was released he went underground through fear.”
“The police did not even bother to look out for Dias during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s time. However after the Government changed, and the CID took over the investigation, Dias was traced and questioned. He spilled the beans and said he can identify the person who hammered him. He was blindfolded and abducted but saw the person at the place where he was kept and hammered. He told the CID that the person looked just like his Uncle and then they did the sketch and followed up. That was how Udalagama was traced and later identified by Dias. The boutique keeper gave the description of the guy in black and thats the second drawing,” the source said.
Rohan / July 28, 2016
Under another topc, “Confusion Reigns As Lasantha’s ‘Driver’ Identifies Army Officer As His Abductor”, our Resident Expert KASmalam uttered, “What is this?.. Is it another Ataka Nataka from Batalanada Ranil’s Yahapalana Police?”
Now, this article says,
“This reached the Army intelligence, who was told about Dias’s utterance, and they kidnapped him. No one knew about the kidnapping as after the driver was released he went underground through fear”
Then says,
“The police did not even bother to look out for Dias during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s time. However after the Government changed, and the CID took over the investigation, Dias was traced and questioned. He spilled the beans.”
Okay, now this is a good work by the CID. But, would the idiots be convicted and punished? That is the question now.
You had it, Govigama KASmalam!
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Ben Hurling / July 28, 2016
As grothesque as this murder was I am sick & tired of this silly soap opera.
Obviously this crime is not so hard to solve. Everyone knows that.
Police does not make any official statements to the nation about the progress of this high-profile investigation. Which in itself is highly unsual and suspicious for a “professional” Police force. Instead rumours are flying in all directions. For nearly 7 years now.
Dear Sri Lankans, exactly how stupid can you be? Establishment is not keen on shooting themselves in the foot. They are not interested in opening this “Can of Worms”.
However, in the meantime the corrupt top brass might be interested in using this killing for short-term political gains. While feeding the stupid electorate a few bread crumbs (rumours) every now and then.
I would be delighted if you could prove me wrong.
Cheers!
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trunket / July 28, 2016
easy on that just try Dr Nonis,
you need prince charles personal appearance for a cuppa tea No??.
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Aku / July 29, 2016
Ben… You have a serious point there, but… unfortunately, many corrupt officials from various places have to be done with first, and its happening… slow and steady like….
But the fish is now jumping….
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Mudson Silva. / July 28, 2016
Daily Mirror and the Media coolies are trying to give it a different twist to the the murder. Military intelligence was behind the murder of Lasantha on the orders of the then Defense Secretary Bayagota.
Whatever ataka nataka i hope the real culprits who gave the orders should be arrested and incarcerated soon. Nobody has the right to take someones innocent life and i wonder how the family members of Lasantha are coping during this difficult time.
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NAK / July 28, 2016
I thought the military intelligence was under the army commander as it should be and that’s why ponnil accused him for the murder.
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soma / July 29, 2016
“Military intelligence was behind the murder of Lasantha on the orders of the then Defense Secretary Bayagota.”
Please assist the investigation by providing the authorities with your source.
Soma
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Nuwan / July 28, 2016
“Dias used to consume alcohol every evening. He used to visit various places and blurt out stuff such as it was Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was behind Lasantha’s assassination. “
Freedom of expression is applicable to the intoxicated as well.
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Rohan / July 28, 2016
/Freedom of expression is applicable to the intoxicated as well.
You would be fearless, as you don’t know the consequences, when you are drunk. Hence, mostly people speak the truth under influence.
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arancha / July 28, 2016
“Hence, mostly people speak the truth under influence “
No not really just jibber-jabber, gibber, blether, blather, blither, ramble, illogical.
You don’t need to think to speak the truth.- look at a child grimacing…to teach it to hide the grin.
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max / July 28, 2016
Ok. Plan is clear now. Though there is no consistent, a story is there to set the stage to get Gota in. What has happened to the previous remarks of the then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and the then Chief Opposition Whip, Joseph Micheal Perera in house with regard to Lasantha’s killing?
All this is because “Gota-Bhaya” in 2020?
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shankar / July 28, 2016
this does not mean that the parties who abducted the driver were the parties who killed lasantha.The two incidents may be unrelated because gota could have got infuriated because his name was being bandied about by this driver.The driver also does not seem to have any evidence against gota but was shooting off his mouth.Gota can be got at through this driver for abduction and tha is what the cops are trying to do.
Mahinda has told twice lasantha’s brother that fonseka is the guy who killed lasantha.Cops have not interviewed mahinda or fonseka on this serious a allegation by a person no less than the former head of state.Very suspicious indeed.The government may be thinking that they may shoot them selves in the foot if their current minister is implicated.At that time gota,fonseka and mahinda were all good buddies and it is inconceivable that something like this could have happenned without all three having the knowledge and giving the approval for the assasination.Now mahinda is tryng to pass the buck on to fonseka just because he may have not directly participated in the organising of it,but the fact that he knew it was going to happen and had given his approval makes him responsible for the murder as the head of state who could have prevented it from happening.
The key to break this wall of silence is to question mahinda about his statements in this regard and also question fonseka about his alleged involvement.The three musketeers will always work together though dartagan may go and use his sword on the target,the other two will be closeby giving him the necessary protection and cover.
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Rohan / July 28, 2016
/The two incidents may be unrelated because gota could have got infuriated because his name was being bandied about by this driver.
So, if Gota gets mad at someone, even is he is a dope, he could be abducted, threatened and shut down? Okay!
/Mahinda has told twice lasantha’s brother that fonseka is the guy who killed lasantha./
Then, why didn’t Mahinda bring Fonseka to answer? Do you all remember, “Lasantha, heh, who iss Lasantha? Lasantha who, heh heh, he, Lasantha who” interview by Gota?
There is a certain Rajapaksa involvement, alone or with many others.
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shankar / July 28, 2016
rohan
how about a scenario like this.
gota-aiya,high time to get rid of this bugger no?
mahinda-do what you want but don’t get me involved in it.
gota -shall i talk to fonny?
mahinda-okay but don’t tell him i know about it.
gota-fonny this fellow must go no?
fonseka- yes.the bloody bastard is now too much.
gota-can you organise it?
fonseka-okay,but what about meeharaka,sorry mahinda.
gota-don’t worry about that.i will take care of that.
don’t know whether this is the way it happenned or whther fonseka said o gota that he will provide the people and for goa to organise it.
looks like army intelligence unit are the fellows behind all the assasinations.what has to be looked at is whether gota or mahinda can contact this personnel and use them without getting fonseka’s permission.If that was the chain of command prevalent then fonseka is safe.He can always say i knew nothing about it because they can be contacted and used without my permission.
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Sapumal / July 29, 2016
Are you trying to kill two birds with one stone? ( i went to Rajapaksha suddenly wanted to visit Fonseka!) Just wandering.
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shankar / July 29, 2016
sapumal
actually,one bird with two stones from different directions.
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Naufer Mohamed - Kotte / July 28, 2016
Don’t catch the sprats catch MARA AND HIS FAMILY CLAN.
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NAK / July 28, 2016
If this account of events is correct how come this man be an eye witness to the murder?
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sal / July 28, 2016
Fiction stories cleverly made to look real.The story of identifying on a sketch in the news papers and the identification itself is too good to be true.They found a man and put the sketch and exposed him to the fellow much before the ID parade.This id the truth
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janaka / July 28, 2016
And nothing to do with helping Hambantota theft of tsunami money exposed by Lasantha or little Gota MIG corrupt deal also exposed?
This is not a Buddhist country? American embassy Colombo?
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Sathyanadan / July 28, 2016
Ask the new Minister in Ranil’s cabinet. Field Marshal Fonseka needs to be questioned considering UNP statements in Parliament. Ask Fonny about Keith N too. They know it all. Why isn’t he being questioned? Is it because he is now a propaganda bile duct for Ranil?
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Douglas / July 28, 2016
This Driver fellow will be grilled in Courts and I feel sorry for him. The most important thing to find now is that “Pocket Note Book” of Mr. Lasantha Wickrmatunga. It was in Police custody; so where is it now? WHO gave it WHOM and have those “WHO” and “WHOM” are QUESTIONED to locate it.The CID must now go after those “WHO” and “WHOM” and bring them to justice if they fail to produce answers. Please don’t lead us to distract our attention from Lasantha Murder case to an “Abduction of a Driver” (already named to be an addict) case. What the people want is to SOLVE the mystery murder of Mr. Lasantha Wickramatunfa.
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Sylvia Haik / July 28, 2016
On that day in January, I was holidaying in a house in Bakery Junction, Attidiya, near where Lasantha was assassinated. I spoke to several witnesses, while the police spoke to no one. The story as I recall was that a couple of guys in Army fatigues, presumably soldiers, from the barracks nearby, went alongside the car Lasantha was in and shot him. The assassins were seen returning to the barracks. The Commander at those barracks was General Sarath Fonseka. Those were times General Sarath Fonseka was in good terms with Gotabhaya Rajapakse and it was most likely that the orders came from Gotabhaya to General Fonseka and carried out by his minions. The CID should question Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka to find out what he knows. If he is to be given immunity, so be it.
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arancha / July 28, 2016
To Kill a Mockingbird
`em all in it.
(the most dangerous thing you could do to your eyes)
‘Waiting for order to kill:’ China Army.
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KA Sumanasekera / July 29, 2016
Uncle & Udulagama. What a match..
Why doesn’t Batalanada’s CID grill Fonny. Sorry invite or visit him and request him for a statement.
Now Fonny is a card carrying member of Batalanada Ranil’s UNP Faction.
So is the new IGP according to a MP of the Srilankan Parliament.
How hard is to stitch up Gota..And they owe it to the Diaspora..
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Rohan / July 29, 2016
Like the Musicians in the Titanic, KASmalam keeps playing his fiddle until the ship fully sinks! What a loyalty, what a loyalty… I bet, Basil will desert the ship before KASmalam does! Is anyone out there to put money on this, at some good odds!
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TinPotJihadi / July 29, 2016
CID should question Field Marshal Fonseka, UNP cabinet minister; he was the all powerful uncontrollable Commander of the Army in 2009. He was made Army commander by Gotabaya when his term was about to expire and he was desperately looking for an extension. He was not given an extension by President Kumaranatunge. But then luckily for him and Sri Lanka too Mahinda became President in 2005 just before his tenure was about to expire. Lo and behold he was made Army Commander; he chased out the commander in the house without even the courtesy of the traditional parade or giving him time to vacate. S.Leader reported about his extravagance for his daughter’s wedding. S.Leader under Keith N, reported about how he awarded himself all the medals(he had blackmarks on his file for women problem earlier on his life in the Army, and was not eligible for the highest honour) and 2 weeks later Keith was abducted. We all know who ordered that.
What about the statements Ranil made? what about the statements Joseph Michael Perera made? QUESTION FONSEKA NOW.
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Shrikharan / July 29, 2016
Well it is truly a drama by Yahalpalanaya to fool the people. They really want to protect Rajapakses and that is why when real truth was coughed out by the driver he was abducted. Nothing of these could happen without the support and connivance of the present Government. In the end the people are the real fools!
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Diogenes / July 29, 2016
K.A.Sumanasekera seems to be obsessed with Batalanda. Why not come out of that place and talk about something sensible?
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upi / July 29, 2016
The wheels of justice turn slowly but surely. There is never a perfect crime.They will be caught one at a time.
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Upul / July 29, 2016
Most of you chaps are writing your opinions without any access to the facts of the case except the news media. We all know how they get their news.
If Fonseka was such a great leader, how come he has not come forward and given his two cents about this murder until now. He must know. He should know. He does know.
Problem is, he is another selfish Sri Lankan trying to live off of other people’s money.
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